dchew
Well-known member
I've been using the H&Y system for the last several months. I had not heard of it before reading Tim Parkin's very thorough review of filter systems at OnLandscape (paid content).
The real reason this system interested me was the opportunity to create a LCC card and dark frame that attached magnetically. Technical camera lenses are now supplied without Copal shutters, so there is no way to close the lens for a dark frame. That is not much of an issue when you are shooting without filters; just add the lens cap and shoot the dark frame. Add a filter, especially a carefully positioned GND, and it really becomes a problem. You have to remove the filter holder, cover the lens, tell the back to go ahead and take its dark frame, then finally re-attached the filter holder for subsequent photos.
Same difficulty is associated with shooting an LCC.
There are a few characteristics associated with the H&Y system that make it the best solution I know of for this problem:
So, after sourcing some 2mm black ABS and finding an extra LCC card I went to work. 2mm thick Black ABS can be found at Amazon in seconds, so cutting a 100x150mm piece was quick work with a utility knife and straight edge. The std 100x100mm LCC cards are more like 2.5mm thick, so I had to mill down the edges slightly to fit, although you can cram the un-milled, raw LCC card in the frame if necessary.
In the field, dark frames are just as fast, if not a little faster than putting on a lens cap for dark frames. I tested for light leaks and found none even @ 60 seconds / f/4.5 / 100 ISO in mid-day sun. I did find some faint light leaks on the pinch lens cap I’ve been using for a few years...
You don't even have to remove the GND to take the dark frame. The ABS-filled magnetic frame attaches to the face of the applied GND with no noticeable light leaks. Of course for the LCC you do still have to remove the GND, which you want to do for a LCC regardless.
John Ngai and I worked on a similar solution for his Wine Country vaults. He can comment on its application with that system.
Here is a short review of the H&Y system if anyone is interested:
HYFilter.pdf
Dave
The real reason this system interested me was the opportunity to create a LCC card and dark frame that attached magnetically. Technical camera lenses are now supplied without Copal shutters, so there is no way to close the lens for a dark frame. That is not much of an issue when you are shooting without filters; just add the lens cap and shoot the dark frame. Add a filter, especially a carefully positioned GND, and it really becomes a problem. You have to remove the filter holder, cover the lens, tell the back to go ahead and take its dark frame, then finally re-attached the filter holder for subsequent photos.
Same difficulty is associated with shooting an LCC.
There are a few characteristics associated with the H&Y system that make it the best solution I know of for this problem:
- The magnetic filter frames attach to the outside holder in a light-tight way
- You don’t have to slide them in and out; they just attach magnetically to the front face of the holder
- H&Y sells empty magnetic frames. They are meant to hold 100x100 or 100x150mm filters you already own, but you can fill them with any 2mm thick material.
So, after sourcing some 2mm black ABS and finding an extra LCC card I went to work. 2mm thick Black ABS can be found at Amazon in seconds, so cutting a 100x150mm piece was quick work with a utility knife and straight edge. The std 100x100mm LCC cards are more like 2.5mm thick, so I had to mill down the edges slightly to fit, although you can cram the un-milled, raw LCC card in the frame if necessary.
In the field, dark frames are just as fast, if not a little faster than putting on a lens cap for dark frames. I tested for light leaks and found none even @ 60 seconds / f/4.5 / 100 ISO in mid-day sun. I did find some faint light leaks on the pinch lens cap I’ve been using for a few years...
You don't even have to remove the GND to take the dark frame. The ABS-filled magnetic frame attaches to the face of the applied GND with no noticeable light leaks. Of course for the LCC you do still have to remove the GND, which you want to do for a LCC regardless.
John Ngai and I worked on a similar solution for his Wine Country vaults. He can comment on its application with that system.
Here is a short review of the H&Y system if anyone is interested:
HYFilter.pdf
Dave
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